FRESNO, Calif.- A back and forth ballgame ended with a chance to tie but the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (18-7 overall, 12-5 PacWest) fell 60-58 to the Hawai'i Hilo Vulcans (12-12 overall, 9-9 PacWest) Thursday night at the Special Events Center.

Although the Sunbirds maintain second place in the PacWest for the moment, the loss ends FPU's chance at a perfect home record this season, dropping them to 10-1 inside the SEC.

It also kept Hilo's postseason hopes alive.

The game was back and forth the entire night with 17 total lead changes and never slipped into more than a three possession game.

FPU had the edge in the first quarter until the Vulcans hit a pair of threes to close the period up 17-13.

Maesyn Rix was scoring early and often for FPU on her way to a game-high 17 points.

The 'Birds outscored Hilo 18-17 in the highest scoring period of the game with Jayla Green and Jasmine Heu combining for 15 points in the first half.

The pace returned to a grind it out style in the second half.

The Sunbirds came close over the final minutes and had the ball with 30 seconds left.

But a series of putback attempts wouldn't go down with several bodies crowding around the hoop as time expired.

Rix was joined in double-figures by Felicia Dourva, who had 11 points.

Fresno Pacific wraps up the homestand on Saturday night, hosting the Academy of Art at 5:00pm.

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